The motor industry is opening its doors to electric vehicles (EVs) as more oil companies slowly adapt to its needs.
In a recent Frost and Sullivan regional survey, 46 percent of Filipinos are considering an electric vehicle as their next new automobile.
In January, the Department of Energy (DOE) rolled out 500 electric jeepneys to the public as their contribution to the modernization of the transport system.
As for e-tricycles, there are currently 900 e-trikes running on the roads of Manila, with 1,200 still up for grabs and awaiting release to various LGUs.
By year 2020, there will be one million EVs on the road, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) President Rommel Juan said.
“It’s not impossible because this includes two-wheelers like electric bikes, electric motorcycles, 3-wheelers like electric tricycles, and the e-jeepneys,” Juan said to Rappler reporters.
To support potential users of EVs, Unioil opened to the public their second EV charging station located at Unioil EDSA Guadalupe (Northbound) on Wednesday, 27 June 2018.
The second EV charging station is a fast charging station that allows users to charge US, European, and Japanese EVs for five to 15 minutes.
Unioil Vice President for Business Development Noel Soriano said Unioil has always been a proponent for the use of cleaner energy. By installing these charging stations, they hope they encourage more people to start migrating to cleaner transportation options.
“Doing Our Part is a campaign of Unioil to encourage people to make wise choices that will help minimize environmental destruction and improve conservation of the environment,” he said.
The P2.5-3 million project can safely and conveniently charge a variety of US, European, and Japanese electric vehicles.
“This EV charging station is equipped with the latest Chademo fast charging protocol compatible with most Japanese, US and European cars. We want to encourage more people to begin considering the use of electric powered vehicles.
“We want to make available the infrastructure needed to pave the way for much cleaner forms of transportation. This is consistent with Union’s advocacy to find ways of doing our part for a cleaner environment,” Unioil President Kenneth Pundanera said.
Unioil was the first oil company to install an EV charging station, beginning with their branch in Congressional Avenue Extension, Quezon City, Metro Manila last year.
Charging at the new EV station is free until a significant demand is reached.
Unioil is also planning to install more charging stations within the next twelve to eighteen months.
Building the EV charging network
Several petroleum companies have also pledged to install their own charging stations.
Petron Corp. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (Shell) have both committed to install charging stations in select retail stations.
Earlier this year, Shell, QEV Philippines, and Swiss robotics firm ABB signed an agreement to put up the first EV fast-charging infrastructure network in the Philippines.
They will start with an initial 100 pilot sites in the pipeline. The first installations will take place in December this year.
The big picture
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committees Energy, and Economic Affairs, praised Unioil for their initiative in leading the EV industry forward.
“I commend Unioil for taking the initiative to spur EV development in the country through construction of charging stations. In addition, Unioil’s environmental contribution through the use of technology in their charging stations that reduces carbon footprint by 4.7 metric tons annually is notable,” he said.
The senator said that the industry is like up for a positive turn as EV units become more accessible and affordable.
EV car sales are projected to reach 55 percent by 2040. Support from investors and oil companies help contribute in fast tracking the sector’s growth.
While there is resounding support from various groups, EVAP Chairman Ferdinand Raquelsantos hopes that the Senate helps push the passage of the EV bill. It has already undergone several revisions in the senate floor.
The latest version of the bill is Senate Bill No. 1540, titled “Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Including Charging Stations Promotions Act Of 2017.” It was filed in August last year by Senator Francis Pangilinan.
